Device for launching and retrieving a spherical ball

Abstract

A housing has an open-topped hemispherical recess in its top to accommodate a spherical ball. The ball is attached to one end of a cable which is itself secured to a spring loaded reel inside the housing. When ejector means are operated by the user's foot, the ball is ejected upwardly out of the recess, so as to enable the ball to be hit by a bat. As the ball travels after being hit, the cable reels off the reel, winding up the spring on the reel. The spring on the reel then retracts the cable to bring the ball back for a subsequent use.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for launching a spherical ball to enable the ball to be hit by a bat and then retrieved after being hit, comprising; a spherical ball;   a housing with an open-topped hemispherical recess in its top into which the ball may be placed;   foot-operated ejector means for propelling the ball upwardly out of the recess when the ejector means is actuated, the means cooperating with the ball and recess in a manner that once the ball has been replaced in the recess after the means has been operated, the means will be reset for a subsequent operation, said ejector means including a spring-loaded plunger extending upwardly into said recess;   an elongated flexible cable attached at one end to the ball; and   a spring-loaded retractor means located in the housing and attached to the end of the cable remote from the ball to retract the ball back into the recess after the ball has been ejected out of the recess and hit by a bat, said retractor means comprising a reel rotatably mounted in the housing, said cable being attached at its other end to the reel and a coiled spring within the reel affixed at one end to a fixed point in the housing within the reel and affixed at its other end to the inside of said reel in a manner whereby as the cable unwinds from the reel the spring winds up and when the cable is unwound the wound spring rotates the reel to rewind said cable by unwinding.